Soapstone holder



June 6, 1944. MAY 2,350,629

SOAPSTONE HOLDER Filed March 19., 1943 I Inventor .EL..B. Ma I eon 5 mg 19m Patented June 6, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SOAPSTONE HOLDER Emmett Lee Benjamin May, Houston, Tex.

Application March 19, 1943, Serial No. 479,795

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in soapstone holders, and has for its primary object to provide; in a manner hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which is adapted to be expeditiously secured in an exposed position on the apparel where it may be readily located at all times.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a holder of the aforementioned character which is adapted to protect the soapstone against breakage.

Still another very important object of the invention is to provide, in a soapstone holder including a container and a cover therefor, a unique construction whereby said container and said cover may each be economically formed from a single sheet of metal.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a soapstone holder of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eflicient and reliable in use, compact, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing, and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device,

showing the soapstone partially withdrawn from the container.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, but showing the cover in closed position.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a vertically elongated container which is designated generally by reference numeral I.

The container I is formed from a single sheet of suitable metal and includes a back 2, sides 3, inturned flanges 4 on said sides constituting a front, and a bottom 5 integral with the back 2, said container, which is of uniform dimensions throughout, being open at its top. Formed integrally with the upper end of the back 2 of the container l is a resilient clip 6 for removably securing said container to the apparel.

A cover 1 is provided for the container l. The cover I is also formed from a single sheet of suitable metal and includes a back 8, sides 9 integral with the back, inturned flanges l0 integral with said sides constituting a front, and a top H which is integral with one of said sides 9.

The cover 1 is adapted to be detachably secured on one end portion of a stick l2 of soapstone which is insertible in the container I. To-

Ward this end, the cover I further includes in tegral, resilient, inwardly offset tongues l3 which depend from the sides 9 and which frictionally grip the soapstone therebetweemsaid tongues being insertible in the upper portion of the con.- tainer l to frictionally fit against the inner surface of the sides 3 thereof. This is shown to advantage in Figure 3 of the drawing.

It is thought that the manner in which the device is used will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the holder is detachably secured at any suitable point on the clothing through the medium of the resilient clip 6. When it is desired to use the soapstone l2, the cover I is gripped and said soapstone is withdrawn from the container I. The cover 1 serves as a handle for the soapstone when marking. When the soapstone has been substantially consumed, the stub may be readily removed from the cover I and a new stick inserted. When the soapstone I2 is inserted in the container I, said container functions as a shield for positively protecting said soapstone against breakage.

It is believed that the many advantages of a soapstone holder constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A soapstone holder comprising an elongated container for the reception of a stick of soapstone, a cover for the container adapted to be mounted on the soapstone, and means on said cover for clampingly engaging the soapstone, said means fitting with a friction fit in the container.

2. A soapstone holder comprising a container for the reception of a stick of soapstone, means for securing the container on a support, and a cover for the container adapted to be mounted on the soapstone, said cover including resilient tongues adapted to frictionally grip the soapstonetherebetween, said tongues fitting in the container.

3. A soapstone holder comprising a container for the reception of a stick of soapstone, anda cover for the container adapted to be mounted on one end portion of the soapstone, said cover comprising a single sheet of metal including a back, sides integral with the back, inturnedfront flanges integral with said sides, a top integral with one of the sides, and inwardly offset, depending resilient tongues integral with the sides for frictionally gripping the soapstone therebetween, said tongues fitting in the container.

EMMETT we BENJAMIN MAY. 

